Critical Analysis
Blueberries for Sal was extremely well received when it was first published. Many reviewers loved the simplicity of the drawings and how it matched the simple artwork. And even though the drawings were simple pen and ink drawings, they still managed to evoke emotion into the story. It says quite a bit that Robert McCloskey’s drawings for this book won a Caldecott Honor Award.
Even today, people still remember this book. When I tell people I’m researching this book, they fondly remember their childhood readings of it. They may also add that they read it to their children or even their grandchildren now. The story is so good, that we not only remember it, but we’re still telling it almost 70 years later.
When people today are asked what they remember most, one answer is “Kuplink, Kuplank, Kuplunk.” Almost everyone remembers this famous sound of the blueberries hitting the bottom of the pail. They can look back and remember Sal dropping in some of the blueberries to make that sound, but then eating a few right after that. Sal drops in a few more, “Kuplunk” then eats some more. This scene is heartwarming and realistic. While the mother wants to collect a bunch of blueberries to can for the winter, Sal only wants to eat them…just like any small child.
Another thing most people remember is the artwork: The blueberry colored ink to match the blueberries in the story. A 1948 review in Library Journal describes McCloskey’s artwork “as true to the life line of the Maine coast as to the living child and her mother in their search for blueberries on their island” (Brogan).
Then of course, people remember the story itself. Little Sal and her mother picking blueberries, and eventually Sal wanders off. A bear and her cub are also out eating blueberries, and the little cub wanders off. The two small beings switch places and start following the others’ mother. Eventually they come face to face with the wrong mother. For the reader, there is a slight element of danger when Sal looks up at a full grown bear or when the mother looks down into the face of a tiny bear cub, knowing the bear’s mother can’t be far behind. Reading this part to my nephews for the first time emitted an “Uh Oh!” and a tiny giggle. Children love this scene with its very small sense of danger.
Current reviews are still favorable. The following information was found on the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. Blueberries for Sal is considered to be one of the core books that every library should have by the Children’s Catalog, Eighteenth Edition in 2001, and the nineteenth edition in 2006. It is also maintained in the most recent 21st edition published in 2014 housed at my own library. The Association of Library Services for Children suggests it as a book for the Reading is Fundamental list. The Bank Street College of Education also list it as a “Book to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages.” The National Council of Teachers of English also named it on their “Adventuring with books: A Booklist for PreK-Grade 6, 12 edition, 1999” and the California Department of Education listed it on the “Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through grade 12” list in 2002 (CLCD). In 2009, Blueberries for Sal was listed at number 13 on Fuse8’s list of 100 top picture books. In 2012, it had dropped to number 31 (Bird).
For my family, this has always been part of our home library. My older brother and I loved this story growing up. We repeatedly asked my parents to read "the blueberries book." As adults, we still remember this book with fond memories. I recently gave this book to my nephews for their birthday, and they love it as well. I'm sure this book will continue to be shared with future generations as well.
Even today, people still remember this book. When I tell people I’m researching this book, they fondly remember their childhood readings of it. They may also add that they read it to their children or even their grandchildren now. The story is so good, that we not only remember it, but we’re still telling it almost 70 years later.
When people today are asked what they remember most, one answer is “Kuplink, Kuplank, Kuplunk.” Almost everyone remembers this famous sound of the blueberries hitting the bottom of the pail. They can look back and remember Sal dropping in some of the blueberries to make that sound, but then eating a few right after that. Sal drops in a few more, “Kuplunk” then eats some more. This scene is heartwarming and realistic. While the mother wants to collect a bunch of blueberries to can for the winter, Sal only wants to eat them…just like any small child.
Another thing most people remember is the artwork: The blueberry colored ink to match the blueberries in the story. A 1948 review in Library Journal describes McCloskey’s artwork “as true to the life line of the Maine coast as to the living child and her mother in their search for blueberries on their island” (Brogan).
Then of course, people remember the story itself. Little Sal and her mother picking blueberries, and eventually Sal wanders off. A bear and her cub are also out eating blueberries, and the little cub wanders off. The two small beings switch places and start following the others’ mother. Eventually they come face to face with the wrong mother. For the reader, there is a slight element of danger when Sal looks up at a full grown bear or when the mother looks down into the face of a tiny bear cub, knowing the bear’s mother can’t be far behind. Reading this part to my nephews for the first time emitted an “Uh Oh!” and a tiny giggle. Children love this scene with its very small sense of danger.
Current reviews are still favorable. The following information was found on the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. Blueberries for Sal is considered to be one of the core books that every library should have by the Children’s Catalog, Eighteenth Edition in 2001, and the nineteenth edition in 2006. It is also maintained in the most recent 21st edition published in 2014 housed at my own library. The Association of Library Services for Children suggests it as a book for the Reading is Fundamental list. The Bank Street College of Education also list it as a “Book to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages.” The National Council of Teachers of English also named it on their “Adventuring with books: A Booklist for PreK-Grade 6, 12 edition, 1999” and the California Department of Education listed it on the “Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through grade 12” list in 2002 (CLCD). In 2009, Blueberries for Sal was listed at number 13 on Fuse8’s list of 100 top picture books. In 2012, it had dropped to number 31 (Bird).
For my family, this has always been part of our home library. My older brother and I loved this story growing up. We repeatedly asked my parents to read "the blueberries book." As adults, we still remember this book with fond memories. I recently gave this book to my nephews for their birthday, and they love it as well. I'm sure this book will continue to be shared with future generations as well.
Resources:
Bird, Elizabeth. "Top 100 Picture Books #31: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey." Web log post. A Fuse 8 Production. School Library Journal, 1 June 2012. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
Bird, Elizabeth. "Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results (#1-101)." Web log post. A Fuse 8 Production. School Library Journal, 16 May 2009. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
"Blueberries for Sal." Children's Core Collection. Ed. Eve-Marie Miller, Liza Oldham, and Christi Showman Farrar. 21st ed. Ipswich: H.W. Wilson, 2014. 1455. Print.
"Blueberries for Sal." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. CLCD, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.
Brogan, Helen M. "Review of Blueberries for Sal." Library Journal 73.22 (15 Dec. 1948): 1826. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Gerard J. Senick. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 1984. Children's Literature Review Online. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
Bird, Elizabeth. "Top 100 Picture Books #31: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey." Web log post. A Fuse 8 Production. School Library Journal, 1 June 2012. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
Bird, Elizabeth. "Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results (#1-101)." Web log post. A Fuse 8 Production. School Library Journal, 16 May 2009. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
"Blueberries for Sal." Children's Core Collection. Ed. Eve-Marie Miller, Liza Oldham, and Christi Showman Farrar. 21st ed. Ipswich: H.W. Wilson, 2014. 1455. Print.
"Blueberries for Sal." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. CLCD, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.
Brogan, Helen M. "Review of Blueberries for Sal." Library Journal 73.22 (15 Dec. 1948): 1826. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Gerard J. Senick. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 1984. Children's Literature Review Online. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.